Cooper Brothers Acquire Novastar Digital Sound

The Cooper Brothers have purchased leading-edge post production sound company Novastar in a move that provides enhanced audio services through their collection of allied post facilities. The Coopers purchased The Post Group a few months ago and are uniting that companys audio capabilities with Novastar Digital Sound blending the complementary talent and technology of the entities into a powerful new audio resource.

The Coopers also own Lightning Media and The Vault production company and co-own iO Film. Together with The Post Group, and now Novastar, the companies provide a creative campus for the film and television communities with services including: full DI film finishing, color correction, telecine, editing, visual effects, complete digital audio, conversions, duplication, DVD replication, and Internet design and development.

Novastar and The Post Group began sharing resources on the premiere season of the CBS series ?Numb3rs at a time when Matt Cooper and Post Group CEO Stephen Buchsbaum were looking to enhance The Post Groups sound services. Both companies have great respect for the others history and abilities, and once they joined forces on the show, the relationship dynamics led to negotiations which culminated in the June 1st acquisition.

Novastar Co-founders Greg Geddes and Bob Sky are already reaping the benefits of working in concert with the group: ?This is something weve lived were not waiting for the experience to happen, states Geddes, ?Weve already been sharing support and its great to no longer feel like an island. Operating the individual companies autonomously under the umbrella of this new post collective, allows each entity to continue to specialize in their unique areas without duplication of effort, but with a broad base of support that enriches everyones capabilities. ?Its all of us just being who we are, adds Sky, ?but that cooperative spirit keeps us operating in a harmonious way that takes us all to a new level of service.

The companies share not only a common vision and technical ties, but are in close enough physical proximity to one another to efficiently accommodate client needs. Each fiercely independent entity of the group remains dedicated to providing a boutique atmosphere and personalized service. ?What were most excited about is that we can now operate as part of a group that gives us breadth and scope without losing our soul. Were still able to be personable with our clients on a one-to-one basis while the support is there behind all of it its basically the fledgling beginnings of a film studio nestled here in the Hollywood community, Geddes says.

While the collective companies are designed to provide all relevant services, clients will find no strings attached. ?It doesnt matter which door you walk in through, clients should also know that they have options even if they choose to work in only one of the facilities, Sky stresses. ?This group just assures that if your primary needs are audio and that blossoms into any of the other services we offer, you will be accommodated and supported. We want to be the ?go-to people and like to offer clients as much full service as possible but taking advantage of those services is totally up to the client.

The Novastar acquisition enhances the services available to existing Post Group clients and provides new expertise through a team thats been servicing major film studios and independent production companies for over fourteen years. The expanded Novastar services will include three mixing suites featuring sound design/editorial for 5.1 re-recording/mixing for film, television, commercial, special venue or inter-active gaming clients; and a fourth suite custom-built for reality programming. Award-winning sound restoration services are included; from production dialog noise removal to complete archival sound track restoration and DVD pre-mastering.

Novastar features THX certified dub stages with 35mm film projection or high definition DLP digital projection. It also offers ?virtual digital mixing consoles for 2 mixers per dubbing stage supported by Digidesigns Pro Tools HD systems capable of over 200 play back tracks per mixer. Unique working methods and robust technologies provide a highly flexible mixing platform with edit-on-the-fly capabilities.

A build-out of the existing facility will incorporate new ADR, Foley and re-recording stages as well as a dedicated suite for DVD commentary tracks. ?Providing the most comprehensive high-end audio services is critical to our expanded growth plan, Buchsbaum states. ?The acquisition of Novastar is a perfect complement to our group of companies and furthers our opportunities for expansion into the feature film and HD post production markets.

A filmmaker himself, Matt Cooper worked with Novastar on his last feature ?Perfect Opposites, and is thrilled to bring them into the fold: ?I love these guys. I loved working at Novastar, and I couldnt be happier to be in business with them.

About Matt CooperMatt Cooper is a graduate of UCLA Film School. He is a writer, producer and director with four feature films to his credit: ?The Last Supper, ?Campfire Tales ?Panic and ?Perfect Opposites. He is also a licensed attorney in the state of New York and a former stand-up comedian.

About David CooperDavid Cooper has been involved as executive producer of The Vault production company, and has historically been responsible for securing financing. Based in New York, David is CEO and Chairman of ProHEALTH Corporation, a physician practice management company, managing the largest multi-specialty practice in New York State with over 600 employees and over $100 million dollars in yearly revenue.